NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18
Now Damian’s primary mission was to locate Sasha. The Neon District's tangled web of alleyways and underground passages concealed myriad dangers, from the watchful gaze of the First Sons to the ever-present threat of DARPA operative Moya Jones. He once again took up Jake’s appearance to avoid trouble even if he were detected.
Creating a cavity within his body, Damian nestled the phone given by Trish inside, ensuring that this one wouldn’t be easily destroyed. The Jefferson Tunnel was a vital underground pathway that linked the Neon District with the Warren the area ruled by the Dustmen. Sasha's base of operations was in that tunnel, and Damian knew that he’d have to tread carefully to avoid detection by the Reapers and Sasha herself.
Arriving at the dilapidated entrance to the Jefferson Tunnel, Damian surveyed the crumbling infrastructure warily. The collapsed facade served as a stark reminder of the city's decay, a testament to the chaos that had engulfed Empire City in the wake of the Ray Sphere explosion.
As Damian stood before the collapsed entrance of the Jefferson Tunnel, contemplating his next move, his attention was drawn to a lone figure walking some distance away. Without hesitation, he swiftly yet stealthily approached the unsuspecting individual, covering the man's mouth to stifle any potential screams.
What Damian needed was information on the internal pathway of the tunnel. However, going in by himself was quite dangerous as he had no idea if Sasha’s powers would affect him or not. Sasha’s power to produce a tar-like substance that acted as a mind-control agent. So he needed a minion but he would waste his second superior minion so he would create a savage one instead.
As this would be Damian's first time creating a savage minion, the process intrigued him greatly. Instead of consuming the man and assimilating his essence, as he would with a superior minion, his instincts guided him to infect the individual directly. With tendrils extending from his body, Damian enveloped the man, initiating the transformation process.
As he entered his mindscape, Damian was met with a surreal sight—a representation of the man's consciousness, distorted and corrupted by the infection. The image before him resembled a grotesque, grey-skinned humanoid, devoid of intelligence and driven solely by primal instincts.
In this moment of connection, Damian found himself flooded with information about DNA and genetics, a deep understanding of the mechanisms underlying the creation of his savage minions. It became clear to him that he could manipulate these genetic blueprints to create a base model for his minions, a foundation upon which their evolution would build upon.
With newfound clarity, Damian began to shape the genetic structure within his mindscape, crafting a template for his savage minions. Each detail was meticulously designed, from their physical attributes to their instinctual drives. It felt as if he were in a mad scientist lab as not only human DNA was available but also those of the animals he had consumed at the zoo previously.
He began to work, shifting information affect not only the appearance of the creatures, but also their abilities. As he played with the genetic code he treated it like a canvas upon which evolution would paint his masterpiece. However, with each stroke, he felt weaker as if he had just run a marathon limiting the changes he could make. When he finished the creature before him was a marvel.
This creature was a four-legged animal, with each limb endowed with the muscular power and agility of a cheetah, that would allow it to traverse terrain with unmatched speed and grace. Its body was sleek and streamlined, reminiscent of a dolphin's form. Its skin was also adorned with the adaptive camouflage of a chameleon, allowing it to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, rendering it virtually invisible to the naked eye.
It had no eyes but rather possessed sensory organs capable of detecting subtle changes in air currents, much like a hawk. These organs grant it a keen awareness of its environment, enabling it to navigate with precision and accuracy, even in the darkest of nights. Coupled with the echolocation abilities inherited from bats, the creature possesses a comprehensive understanding of its surroundings, able to perceive obstacles and prey alike with uncanny clarity.
The mind of this hunter is a synthesis of the intelligence of a dolphin and the cooperative instincts of an ant colony. While capable of processing information quickly and making decisions with remarkable speed, it is also easily subject to a collective consciousness. It could be linked to others of its kind through a shared hive mind. This hive mind facilitates communication and coordination among individuals, allowing them to work together seamlessly to achieve their goals.
But perhaps the most striking feature of this creature is its ability to generate static shocks, inherited from the electric eel. With a mere thought, it can produce powerful bursts of electricity, stunning prey or adversaries with stunning precision. This unique combination of abilities makes the perfect stealth hunter a formidable force in any environment, capable of dominating the hunt with unparalleled skill and adaptability.
Marveling at his creation Damian exhaustion peaked as he was suddenly ejected from the mindscape. His vision blurred as he looked and saw the man's body begin to contort and break before falling into a state of unconsciousness. In such a state he transformed back into a blob of biomass. As his consciousness faded his instincts were still active but since there was no living creature to consume he stayed put.
As Damian regained consciousness, he found himself face to face with the creature he had created. The creature's sleek, four-legged body exuded power and agility, a fusion of the cheetah's speed and the dolphin's grace. As it breathed, Damian observed the subtle shifts in its skin, a mimicry of the chameleon's adaptive camouflage. It was a creature perfectly suited for stealth and survival in its environment. The creature emitted a low growl, it seemed devoid of any semblance of intelligence, reflecting only primal instincts.
"Back," Damian commanded, his voice firm yet tinged with a hint of exhaustion.
To his surprise, the creature complied without hesitation, taking a few steps backward. As it moved, Damian couldn't help but marvel at its natural ability to blend into its surroundings, its chameleon-like skin shifting seamlessly to match the environment.
"Interesting," Damian muttered to himself, studying the creature's adaptive camouflage. "You are quite remarkable. I wish I could have added more things to your body. It’s also a shame I can only make five of these."
The creature emitted a low, guttural sound in response, its movements fluid and agile as it obeyed Damian's command to take a few steps back.
"Blend into the surroundings," Damian instructed, gesturing towards the dimly lit tunnel walls.
Without hesitation, the creature's skin began to shift and change, mirroring the colors and textures of its environment. In a matter of seconds, it vanished from sight, seamlessly blending into the shadows of the tunnel.
Impressed by the creature's innate ability to camouflage itself, Damian nodded approvingly. He then closed his eyes and sent an image through a faint connection he felt in his mind. "Perfect. Now, enter the cavern and gather information for me. Find this woman Sasha and report back to me. Make no noise and stay hidden."